Saratoga Springs radiates confidence in hospital plan

The Saratoga Springs, N.Y. City Council has taken sides in the fight between Saratoga Hospital Glens Falls Hospital over building a radiation therapy center in the city and sided with local hospital.

A resolution offered by Saratoga Springs Mayor Ken Klotz, and unanimously approved by the council, favors the Saratoga Hospital plan over the one put forward by Glens Falls Hospital.

"The mayor of Saratoga Springs and the City Council, speaking on behalf of the citizens of Saratoga Springs, support this proposal, recognizing the clear benefit to this community and applauding Saratoga Hospital's contributions to improving the quality of life in Saratoga County," the resolution said.

Both hospitals have applied to construct treatment centers in Saratoga Springs.

The New York State Department of Health must grant a "certificate of need" in order for either hospital to go ahead with their plan. Health Department officials have urged the two hospitals to work together.

But Glens Falls Hospital favors an approach in which the two facilities would share ownership of a new cancer therapy center, while Saratoga Hospital wants a "clinical affiliation" in which it would own the new center.

"We are pleased at the support offered to this project by the mayor and the City Council," Saratoga Hospital CEO David Andersen said in an written statement.

"The community's overwhelming support for this program has been unwavering and inspirational as we fight to see this program through to completion," he said.